The Nigerian new boy has scored second string goals at a rapid rate since arriving on Teesside and proved lethal in the opposition box once again as Boro shut out their North-east neighbours in a high tempo and competitive Central League fixture at Rockliffe Park.

After Jordan Mellish deflected Julio Arca’s early effort on to his own bar, Ogbeche opened the scoring with an 18th minute header from Malaury Martin’s corner and tapped in Curtis Main’s drag-back to double Boro’s lead (29) shortly after James Brown rapped the post for Pools.

The African striker then struck his and Boro’s third from a peach of a 33rd minute Adam Reach cross.

Pools had plenty of possession at the start of the second half and substitute Adam Boyd fired an instinctive snap shot at Boro keeper Danny Coyne when Hines’ defensive header fell to him.

Paul Weldon was a lick of paint away from increasing Boro’s lead eight minutes from time when he thumped a shot against the foot of the left-hand post at the end of a weaving run.

Reach had to be alert to clear off the line from Pools substitute Callum Hassan to preserve Boro’s clean sheet in the dying embers of the game, and visiting substitute Luke James launched a header over from Nathan Luscombe’s corner in the afternoon’s last action.

With no first-team game until a week on Saturday due to the international break, there was a smattering of experienced players in Arca, Coyne, Seb Hines and Martin alongside the usual youthful Boro reserves line-up.

And second team manager Steve Agnew was pleased with what he saw.

Agnew said: “It was an accomplished and solid team performance. I thought Hartlepool were very good for the first 20, 25 minutes and their work ethic made for a really competitive 90 minutes.

“The goals came rather quickly and we were very much in control in that spell.

“The senior players were terrific. I said to any senior player, coming into a second team fixture is all about their attitude and it was first class from No 1 to 11.

“I think with the international break and no fixture at the weekend, it’s important for the lads to keep up their fitness levels.”

Brown, along with substitute Boyd, was Pools’ most dangerous attacking outlet and Agnew backed the injury-plagued forward - who he coached in a stint as assistant boss at Victoria Park - to turn the corner in his fight for full fitness.

Agnew added: “He was good. He made some terrific runs off the right hand side and almost got in on goal a couple of times.

“The kid has had bad luck with injuries but I’m sure he will come again and play a prominent part in Hartlepool’s season.”